Hours before the PKK terrorist organization's "decision of inactivity" [that would suspend its attacks in Eastern Turkey], a surprising security summit took place in Ankara. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner, related ministers, commanders of forces, executives of Security Department and National Intelligence Agency attended the two and half-hour summit at prime minister's residence.

Participants shared the impressions of Land Forces Commander Gen. Erdal Ceylanoğlu and Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Necdet Özel who supervised the military units deployed in the eastern Anatolian region.

President Abdullah Gül said the Turkish state would never negotiate with terrorists, but contact with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK], or groups close to it, has been encouraged by experts and intelligence services.

"Engaging in conversation with terrorist organizations is up to the experts," said Gül. "My aim is to eliminate the terrorist organizations. The government does not negotiate," he told journalists traveling with him on board a plane en route to the United States.

"Speaking to terrorists is a part of the method. The experts know the method. These experts are military commanders and the government's security and intelligence experts. They know the method, they make suggestions." said the president.

"The terrorists do not have the capacity to think on their own. They are people who have lived in caves for 20 years. The power of the government will not yield to any terrorist organization. The one thing you must do is never make concessions to the terrorist organizations."

The most recent terror related incident happened last week when a [land] mine explosion killed nine civilians. A bag with more explosives was found near the scene, placed there by members of the PKK, according to reports.

The bag prompted debate after an investigation revealed the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party [BDP] gave instructions to use the bags as provocation. Some media outlets reported the possibility of the Turkish Armed Forces being responsible for the attack.

"It is wrong to bring our security institutions under suspicion, whether it is the Armed Forces, the General Directorate of Security, or the [National Intelligence Organization]," President Gül said during the debate.

"These are big institutions. There could be those who make mistakes," he said. "I do not find it possible that such local and individual mistakes can be made in today's Turkey."

When asked about the "democratic sovereignty" brought up by the BDP, President Gül said; "These are all wrong, mind draining, trust reducing and separatist ways of thinking."

"They're not innocent," he continued. "They have a setup and a plan. I do not find any of this right."

Saying the current Parliament should be respected more than ever, the president said it "will be missed" because "very important political movements" have taken place by members of the current parliament.

"The representation is very high," said Gül.

"There is 87 percent representation, but there are also very important political differences and opinions within Parliament."

Referring to a final issue dominating the agenda, Gül commented on the debate over his own tenure as president.

The seven-year tenure was recently reduced to five, but it remains unclear whether or not this change will apply to Gül.

"At this point, I can't say anything. The issue is beyond me now. Honestly, I do not pay attention to this anymore. I am only trying to do my job as best as possible," said Gül.

The U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee is set to vote Tuesday on President Barack Obama's ambassadorial pick for the Azerbaijan amid Armenian-Americans' ongoing opposition to the diplomat's nomination.

The Armenian National Committee of America [ANCA], the largest and most influential Armenian-American group, accuses Matt Bryza of denying what it calls the "Armenian genocide" and of having a pro-Turkish and pro-Azerbaijani position.

ANCA, in a weekend statement, urged Armenian-Americans "to call your senators and urge them to reject Bryza's nomination and to write your senators and urge them to block the nomination."

"Mr. Bryza, with every new dodge, digs himself a deeper and deeper hole, demonstrating why he is so clearly the wrong choice to be U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan," said Aram Hamparian, executive director of ANCA.

"Our nation's interests in Baku and throughout the Caucasus would be best served by a fresh start, with a nominee that doesn't bring such baggage and bias to this important diplomatic posting."

Bryza, who has been U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs since 2005, was nominated in May to become the new U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, a position vacant since last year.

Under U.S. law, all senior administration officials, including ambassadors, need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Bryza appeared at his confirmation hearing at the Foreign Relations Committee on July 22, but shortly later pro-Armenian Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat from California, delayed his confirmation vote by the committee until September. The committee members now will decide Tuesday whether they endorse him or not.

But even if Bryza wins the committee's approval, any senator may indefinitely block his nomination by placing a "hold" on his confirmation.

Separately and for different reasons, Obama's ambassadorial pick for Turkey, Frank Ricciardone, also is waiting for the completion of his confirmation process in the Senate.

Obama on July 1 nominated Ricciardone, a former U.S. ambassador to Egypt and the Philippines. Ricciardone, qualified by some foreign policy experts as an "Arabist," is planned to replace Jim Jeffrey in Ankara. Jeffrey has become the new U.S. ambassador to Baghdad.

Ricciardone won the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's backing on July 22. But on the last day before the Senate went to a summer recess in August, influential Republican Sen. Sam Brownback from Kansas formally put a hold on his nomination, saying: "I am not convinced Ambassador Ricciardone is the right ambassador for Turkey at this time - despite his extensive diplomatic experience."

In an Aug. 16 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Brownback was particularly critical of Ricciardone's service in Egypt. "My concerns about Ricciardone's work ... lead me to concerns about his approach to a number of issues in our relationship with Turkey," the senator said.

"Over the last few years, secular opposition parties (in Turkey) have complained that they received less access to the U.S. ambassador than the ruling party, and based on his record to date, I am concerned that this situation would not change under Ambassador Ricciardone," Brownback said.

"I believe we must be concerned that the Turkish government is moving away from its secularist roots. Next year's pivotal elections provide an opportunity for the secularists to demonstrate their strength and we cannot let our desire for a strong bilateral relationship translate into de facto support of the ruling party, especially if we have reason to believe that opposition parties are in danger of being marginalized," he said.

Brownback then asked Clinton to provide him with information that would address his concerns. Clinton in late August provided him with written answers.

Brownback, who will leave the Senate this fall as part of his quest to become governor of Kansas, is expected this month to decide whether or not to lift his hold on Ricciardone.

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul has said that the 65th term meetings of the UN General Assembly were very important for Turkey because Turkey would chair the UN Security Council during its membership of UNSC.

Gul held a press conference in New York on Sunday prior to his meetings in UN.

Gul said that Turkey would hold meetings at the UN with a large delegation including Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and State Minister & Deputy Premier Ali Babacan.

Noting that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would hold UN Millennium Development Goals Summit prior to the 65th term meetings of the UN General Assembly, Gul said that heads of state & government from 139 countries would attend that summit.

Progress that has been recorded in struggle against hunger, poverty and diseases will be discussed during the summit, he added.

Gul said that issue of terrorism would be taken up at UN Security Council with the initiatives of Turkey and the meeting would be chaired by Foreign Minister Davutoglu. Gul added that Davutoglu would also hold more than 50 bilateral talks.

Gul noted that besides UN meetings, he would attend several other meetings, adding that he would deliver speeches at several important think-tank organizations and universities and meet with Turkish professors.

Responding to a question, President Gul said that he would not be able to meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres because his schedule was tight.

While Turkey allowed Armenians to hold a religious ceremony at the historical church of Akdamar [on Lake Van], another step toward tolerance came from German chancellor. Angela Merkel said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemenie Zeitung newspaper that Germany should get used to mosques. She said that Germany should fulfill its responsibilities to help migrants to adapt themselves with the German society.

President Derviş Eroğlu of northern Cyprus visited Brussels last week. Eroğlu said EU officials made a confession and told him: "It was a mistake to accept Greek Cypriots in the EU before a solution was found to Cyprus question."

Turkey has taken another historic step and allowed a religious ceremony at an Armenian church on Akdamar island in the eastern province of Van. Bells tolled on the island for the first time in 95 years.

Archbishop Aram Ateşyan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey led the ritual. Fifty special guests attended the ritual inside the church while some 5,000 others watched it from two giant screens outside. Meanwhile, the ritual was protested in demonstrations in the Armenian capital Yerevan.

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Robert Levinson, 67, an American citizen, is a retired DEA and FBI agent. In 2007, while researching a cigarette smuggling case as a private investigator, he was abducted in Iran and has since been held hostage.

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